Ad Hoc Committee could shape NBFAA’s Future

SILVER SPRING, Md. - Findings from the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association ad hoc committee examining membership polices were set to come out in December at an executive board meeting and could shape the future of the national association. The committee, appointed by the past president, investigated the chartered state membership. It will provide input on how the board of director representatives from states get appointed, how the billing process gets handled from state to national, as well as reciprocal member requirements and national training programs, said Merlin Guilbeau executive director of the NBFAA. “All of those items are being revisited to determine if they will remain in place or change into something different,” Guilbeau said. After the executive board meets, a meeting will be scheduled through a conference call or at the spring ISC Show in Las Vegas in April where findings will be discussed by members, noted Scot Colby, president of the NBFAA. Colby would prefer to have a face-to-face meeting to warrant discussion. “We are taking baby steps, in this effort,” he said. At press time, Colby would not comment on the committee’s progress until the executive committee reviews the findings on Dec. 14. In recent years, the NBFAA has lost some of its members and state associations because of the decision to dissolve an Affiliated Alarm Association membership, a less expensive means for states to join the national association. But with 38 state chapters and the largest member affiliation when compared to other security associations, they have made strides, especially in education endeavors. The NBFAA’s National Training School offers learning opportunities were alarm technicians can take classes such as the Security Networking Institute class, which covers Internet related security. Dale Eller, director of education at NBFAA said, “security system installers are overlapping with IT people; the classes are created to bridge together understanding.” Colby is aware that some states are withdrawing from the national organization, but hopes the committee will offer serviceable changes to encourage communication between states and the NBFAA. “We are making an attempt to work with members of those states that realize the value of our organization,” he said.